The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-27
that he was lifting fell from his hand.

| NeNeTtueltss tHc cSchc H'u P"SSe~ ~
rapidly that no one was able to sa,
whether it was the agitation that hat
caused the awkwardness, or the awk
wardness the agitation, but dinner wa
finished without Muller reappearing.
| Ia the meantime, however, the Gen
eral was not content. He, at least, ha'
seen that the Austrian officer and hi
coachman were not strangers to eacl
other: also, that the astonishment be
trayed was not the establishment OF
master recognizing an old servant /
strange emotion, a profound alarm
had shown itself in the expression o
these two men as they found them
selves face to face. Moreover the pre-
occupation of the Austrian's manner
during the remainder of the meal had
not escaped him. Had way bsen go
| ing on between France and Austria
General c. would have felt convinced
that Muller was playing the role OF
spy-a supposition under the existing
| state of things impossible. 1t was
more reasonable to think that the
coachman had committed crime, the
revelation of which he dreaded. He
must inquire into it; and as soon as
they left the table, the General sought
the Austrian, intending to question
him, but he, too. had departed from
the salon. as Muller had departed from
the salle-a-manger, and neither the
one nor the other reported again dur
ing the entire evening.
General c., exceedingly annoyed by
this double disappearance. called up
the servants when the guests had gone.
and learned from them that, after his
awkwardness at the table, Muller, in
great distress of mind, had fled to the
stable and locked himself in, and that,
after awhile the Austrian officer, who
had inquired his whereabouts, hur-
riedly joined him there, and remained
with him long time conversing earn
estly Later in the evening they had
come out together and together gone
to the neighboring hotel, still contnu-
ing the conversation.
The next morning, just as the Cen
eral was seating himself to dispatch
note to the officer requesting an eX-
PLANTATION of the affair. word was
brought to him that the coachman was
at home again, busy with his horses.
ut will be better to see him. said
the General to himself, laying aside
the note he was writing and starting
for the stable. As soon as Muller saw
him coming however, he advanced to
meet him and respectfully presented
him n letter, couched, as nearly as |
can recall it, in the following terms:
Upon my honor as gentleman and soldier
will answer for the fidelity and good conduct
Of the coachman, Muller Comte c. will greatly
obgc me if he does not seek to unveil the Sc
cret IN the life Of this man.
COMTE V. DE -"
But if l wish to know it?" said the
General, gravely, turning to the coach
man quietly awaiting his decision.
II should be forced to quit your SER
vice." he answered. II should regret
it, for l have been very happy with
you; nevertheless, | should leave i'm
The behavior of the man, as well as
the recommendation of an officer as
well known as the Comte de ", de-
cided the General; he ceased to ques-
ton him; Muller remained in his stable,
and at the end of a few months the in
cident was forgotten.
In all probability it would have been
etfaced from the Generals memory.
when terrible accident recalled it.
One morning Muller. while conduct
ing the horses to water, was thrown
and cruelty trampled by them. Car
ried to house near by with frac-
tured skull. his condition was such as
to leave but little hope of his recovery;
in fact he died before nightfall, uncon-
scious to the last. The day following
the interment the General directed one
Of his aides-de-camp to enter the cham
Der of the coachman and make list of
its contents.
"Perhaps.' he thought, reviewing
the circumstances surrounding the man,
perhaps there are papers that will re-
veal his identity, or money which, as
careful and economical liver, he has
laid aside, and which must be sent to
his family, should we discover it,
l leave you to imagine the surprise
Of the aide-de-camp on entering to
carry out his instructions to find folded
away at the bottom of the coachman's
trunk an Austrian uniform, the cpau-
lets of a Colonel, the brevct Of this
grade and diplomas of various distin-
guished orders, the medals and decora-
tons of the same being in many eases
with magnificent dia-
monds.
Naturally the aide-dc-camp, ignorant
Of the dinner incident. concluded that
Muller had stolen them. but when he
his discovery to the General,
and also his suspicious, the General as
surpl him that he was entirely mista.